Best At-Home Tooth Whiteners

We rounded up everything from pens to rinses and narrowed down the field to the most promising whiteners — 10 strips, trays, and high-tech devices — which our 200 volunteers tested. In the lab, our researchers used a standardized tooth-shade guide for before-and-after evaluations. And testers reported on whether whiteners were easy to use and if they caused any tooth or gum sensitivity. Here are the ace performers.

The Results: Consumers gave these strips high marks for whitening and being easy to use. While most found this Crest product (a Good Housekeeping Seal holder) didn't irritate gums, seven people experienced temporary tooth sensitivity.

Testers said:"You can still do other things around the house while your teeth are whitening." "It is a good alternative to a dentist's-office treatment."

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips

Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips

Winning Product:Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express White-strips ($55, drugstores); can be used once every three months

Average Shades Lightened:1.4

Maximum Shades Lightened:4

The Results: For a faster fix, these speedy strips were tops, though lab results showed that they didn't whiten as much as the other Crest strips did. These also caused tooth sensitivity in six testers.

Testers said:"I saw results after a single use.""It was a cinch to use! And there was no mess!"